We
published a final rule in today’s Federal
Register [HTML
| [PDF]
concerning the duration and submission of temporary change-of-address
orders. The minimum duration for a temporary change-of-address is 15 days,
with 185 days as the maximum. The maximum for an additional temporary
change-of-address is 179 days.

This
change does not reduce the maximum time for which customers can obtain
temporary change-of-address service, which remains up to one year. The
change requires customers to submit a second request only if they need the
service for more than six months.

The
new standards are effective October 10, 2007.

New
Address Standards for Presorted, Carrier Route, and Automation Rate Letters
and Flats

We
published two notices for comment in today’s Federal
Register proposing new address
standards for letters and flats mailed at presorted, carrier route, and
automation rates. For flats [HTML
| [PDF],
our proposal includes new address placement and formatting requirements, and
an 11-digit POSTNET barcode or Intelligent Mail barcode must be used on all
automation-rate pieces. For letters [HTML
| [PDF],
we propose new address type size and spacing requirements.

Single-piece
letters and flats mailed at retail rates are not affected by either
proposal.

We
encourage mailers to review and comment before December 10, 2007.

New
Standards for Express Mail Corporate Accounts

We
published a notice for comment in today’s Federal
Register [HTML
| [PDF]
proposing to add Automated Clearing House debit as a new method of payment
for Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) customers. Under our proposal,
cash and check deposits would be eliminated and EMCA customers would have
three options to fund their accounts: participate in the Centralized Account
Processing System (CAPS); use a personal or business credit or debit card;
or authorize the USPS to originate an Automated Clearing House debit from a
specified bank account.